FPI awards “everything we desire in a Financial Planner”

Johannesburg, South Africa: The Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa hosted a gala dinner to celebrate and crown the best of the profession.

About 250 professionals in the financial planning profession came together at the Inanda Polo Club in Sandton, Johannesburg to celebrate what has admittedly been a difficult year for the profession.

Speaking at the 2018 FPI Awards Ceremony Gala Dinner, sponsored by Alexander Forbes, FPI chairperson Ntai Phoofolo acknowledged the difficult year it had been for the FPI but voiced his optimism that the worst was behind them.

“It has definitely been a difficult period for us but I feel much more comfortable, so many weeks later, to believe we are getting past the storm, as opposed coming into it, and I am sure we will come out stronger.”

“It’s back to the basics for us, governance included, with our members at the forefront of our strategy” says Mr Ntai.

Mr Andrew Darfoor, Group CEO at Alexander Forbes says the decision to be the title sponsor of the Gala Dinner and sponsor the Alexander Forbes Investments Asterisk*Awards was an easy one for the group because it was in line with their own values as a business.

“Through these awards we believe we have used our experience as one of South Africa’s leading investment managers to recognise the funds and fund managers who have demonstrated true and consistent skill in achieving superior market returns. In years to come we will expand the range of awards granted across additional categories,” says Mr Darfoor.

“Our decision to sponsor these awards was easy to make because at Alexander Forbes we take our responsibility and mandate seriously, to provide value, peace of mind and financial security for our clients,” said Mr Darfoor.

Ms Janet Hugo,CFP® was the star of the glittering event as she took home the coveted FPI Financial Planner of the year award.

Ms Hugo, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and director of Sterling Private Clients, has been in the financial services profession for more than 10 years. In 2006, she started and ran the Sunday Times Wealth Forum where she regularly presented on general topics of financial planning and investment management.

She is a regular guest speaker on radio, TV and frequently contributes to articles for the press. Janet has been invited to present at several industry conferences both locally and overseas. Public education remains a strong theme for Janet who organised over 600 people to participate in the “FPI MYMONEY123” programme. She has been actively involved with FPI since 2009 and was elected to chair the FPI Investment Competency Committee between 2010 and 2017, after which she served as a non-executive director of the FPI Board for a short while.

An emotional Ms Hugo thanked the judges for their difficult engagement with the finalists and the previous winners for giving her the courage to go on. “Thank you to the people who have inspired me. Many of you have charted a difficult path”.

Though the FPI Financial Planner of the Year was the highlight of the evening, it was not the only category that was honoured.

Mr Ronald King,CFP® walked away with the FPI Harry Brews Award while Ms Carmen Venter,CFP® took home the gong for the “It Starts With Me Award”.

Ms Kirsty Scully,CFP® was awarded with the FPI Media Award and the Diversity and Inclusion award went to Ms Thembisa Mngadi,CFP®. The recipient of this year’s CFP® Professional Competency Examination Award is Ms Daniel Rautenbach,CFP®.

The inaugural Alexander Forbes Investments Asterisk*Awards, were presented at the annual Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI) gala dinner on 22 August 2018. The awards are the Best Equity Fund Award, Best Equity House Award and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Award. They are awarded to investment managers participating in the ASISA SA General Equity category.

The charming Ursula Chikane, best known for presenting the glamorous SABC3 magazine programme Top Billing and MTN Gladiators hosted and the Muses, all-woman instrumentalists band provided the entertainment.

The inaugural annual Alexander Forbes Investments Asterisk*Awards, were presented to the Best Equity Fund Award, won by Aylett Fund Managers, Best Equity House Award (Fairtree Capital) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Award went to Investec Asset Management. They are awarded to investment managers participating in the ASISA SA General Equity category.

“The Alexander Forbes Investments Asterisk*Awards seek to recognise fund managers who demonstrate evidence of investment skill by incorporating in their quantitative ranking, criteria measures which explicitly look to capture manager skill. Measures based purely on performance, or even risk-adjusted performance, often fail to differentiate between the impact of skill and luck in investment outcomes,” says Leon Greyling, Chief Executive Officer of Alexander Forbes Investments.

With regards to the winners, Ntai added: “Our award winners tonight embody everything we desire in a financial planner and our profession. The whole-hearted participation by all of us in today’s event shows our determination to catalyse a national effort and co-operation in advancing financial planning for all in South Africa. Society requires everyone to understand the principles of money management and to develop personal financial management skills that will enable them manage their finances effectively to achieve financial freedom. The success in achieving this is our not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

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Sub-Standard Lives:

Insurance of persons who do not meet the standards set for insurance at regular rates. Sub-standard insurance may be issued for physical, moral, or mental reason, or because of occupation, residence, etc. Also known as impaired lives.